Allison Reynolds's stood up suddenly, causing the five other people sitting at the cheap plastic table with her to glance at her with their eyebrows slightly raised. They didn't ask where she was going when she gathered her bag and a dry bag of Captain Crunch, and walked away. She wasn't friends with any of them, and they weren't friends with her. The only reason any of them sat together at all was out of pure necessity. The Shermer High School cafeteria served as the only shelter from the tail end of winter's cutting winds. The only thing that table had was a silently - but mutually agreed upon - seating chart.

So no one asked any questions when Allison marched across the cafeteria, and everyone had already gone back to their food when she cut Brian Johnson off on his way to his usual cheap plastic table.

"Hi," she said.

Brian looked startled and dropped his lunch bag. "H-hey, Allison."

"I wanted to eat with you," she said softly. "If that's okay."

"Yes," Brian said. "That is super okay."

"Yeah?" Allison questioned with a grin.

"Yeah," Brian confirmed. He glanced over her shoulder at the table she had left behind. "Your friends won't miss you?"

"We're not really friends, we just sit together." She shrugged.

"Okay then," Brian said as he began to lead the way towards the southeast corner of the cafeteria.

Once they reached their destination, Brian said, "Guys, this is my friend Allison."

There were four boys and one girl sitting. They all looked up and gave a grin.

Allison gave a half wave and murmured, "Hi."

"Here," Brian said, gesturing to the only two open spots left. "Sit by me."

Allison took the seat with a smile and looked around at the five other people who were still watching her. One brave soul stuck his hand out across the table and offered up a handshake.

"I'm Larry," he smiled.

Allison tentatively took his hand while shooting Brian a questioning look. When he nodded, her lip twitched slightly before she was able to smile back.

The other girl at the table introduced herself as Iris. "I like your hair," she told Allison.

Allison liked it too. She had started wearing it pulled back into a ponytail. Her bangs and a couple of loose strands framed her face in a gentle way. She thought it was messily unique.

"Yeah, it looks nice," Brian agreed. "Like when Claire did it."

A boy named Killan choked on his Diet Coke. "What?"

The boy to Brian's left leaned forward. "Claire as in Standish?"

Brian's eyes widened with panic. He still hadn't figured out whether or not to tell his friends about Saturday. He fidgeted with his spoon, stuttering his way to an explanation. "Well, you see, what I meant was—" To his rescue, the spoon slipped between his fingers and fell to the linoleum floor with a clatter.

"Shit!" Brian exclaimed with relief. He leaned behind Allison to pick it up, placing his hand on her lower back just to make sure she wouldn't fall.

Halfway across the cafeteria, Andrew Clarke leapt to his feet, glaring daggers at Brian.

Andrew sat in the middle of the cafeteria where the three largest tables were. There were enough seats to fit 36 people. Every single conversation surrounding Andrew came to a sudden halt, and 35 pairs of eyes looked up at him questioningly.

His friend Dave tapped him on the leg. "You good?"

Andrew realized he was clenching his fists. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thought I saw a bee or something."

Everyone laughed and returned to their previous conversations. It was common knowledge that Andrew was deathly afraid of bees. Once everyone had lost interest, he felt it safe to steal another glance at Brian and Allison.

Brian had removed his hand the second he sat back up, but that did nothing to help with Andrew's sudden urge to beat him to a pulp.

In the last seven minutes of lunch, Brian stood up. "I have to go talk to Mr. Ryans."

"He'll be on the soccer field this time of day," a boy named Oliver reminded.

"HA!" Larry teased. "Have fun walking through the parking lot!"

Brian rolled his eyes, walking away.

Allison cocked her head. "What's in the parking lot?"

"Burners," Iris answered through a mouthful of salad.

Allison nodded and knew Brian would be fine.

As Brian exited the cafeteria, Andy muttered something about going to the bathroom to the people near him before following him out.

Sloan Peterson nudged Claire Standish and pointed at Andy's unsubtle pursuit of Brian. Giggling, she said, "This should be interesting."

Claire looked up and gave a small groan. "For fuck's sake." She stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder.

"What? Where are you going?" Sloan grabbed the hem of Claire's shirt.

"Andy is one slip up away from getting benched at the meet this weekend," Claire explained.

Sloan scoffed. "Oh, don't get me started on you and Andy."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know too much about him for your own good," Sloan said, giving an expectant look to everyone at the table, demanding validation.

"I see it," a girl named Samantha gushed.

Sloan gave a giddy grin. "Standish with a sport. Yes, please!"

Claire rolled her eyes. "I'm walking away now. I'll see you later."

A chorus of giggles followed her out.

As Brian walked across the student parking lot, he dared a peek over at the crowd of cars that were perpetually surrounded by a haze of cigarette smoke and vagrants. He didn't see the person he was looking for.

But the person he was looking for found him. John Bender got an elbow to the ribs from his best friend as they sat on the hood of a red station wagon, cigarettes in hand.

"Oh, this should be stunning," his friend Pearce said, gesturing to Andy's hot pursuit of Brian.

John didn't laugh as his friend had expected him to. John furrowed his eyebrows and trained his eyes on the pair.

"C'mon, Bender!" Pearce nudged him again. "It's been forever since we've seen a twerp get wasted by a sport. They've all been on their best behavior recently."

"Not this twerp," John said as he slid off the car.

"He's in my shop class." John cast his cigarette aside and, as an afterthought, added, "And Andrew Clarke can eat shit."

He walked towards the two, but Andrew yelled before John got much closer.

"Hey! Johnson!"

Brian turned. "Oh, hey Andy—Woah!"

By the time Brian knew what was happening, Andrew had him by the shirt collar, the fabric balled up in his fist.

"What—What's going on?" Brian asked cautiously.

Andrew stared at him, his breathing rapid. Before he was able to think through his rage and form a coherent thought, there was a cry from behind him.

"Andy!"

Andrew turned to see who was yelling, and a glimmer of hope shone in Brian's eyes.

"What are you doing?" Claire demanded shrilly

"I—" Andrew started, looking back at Brian. "Nothing. It's nothing."

He didn't let go of Brain's shirt.

"Doesn't look like nothing if you ask me."

Necks had never snapped to look at John Bender so quickly.

"If it was nothing you would let go of his shirt." John continued.

"Mind your business," Andrew snapped.

"Andy," Claire whispered harshly.

"Let him go, Clarke," John instructed.

Andrew dropped the cuff of Brian's shirt, but when he made a move to walk away Andrew stuck out his arm.

"You and Allison?" Andrew muttered. "Just friends?"

Brian nodded feverishly.

"Nothing more?"

Brian shook his head. "No, course not. Just friends."

Andrew nodded and let him scamper off. But he didn't get far before Claire grabbed his sleeve.

"You okay?" She questioned. "What was that about?"

"Allison sat with me at lunch today." Brain explained shortly.

She gave an understanding nod and started towards Andrew. "She and Brian are allowed to be friends. You have no right to kiss her once and act like her boyfriend!"

"I'm not acting like I am!" Andrew said defensively, looking down at the ground.

Claire raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, you're right! Fine! Whatever! You just didn't see, he touched her back."

"So?"

"So?" Andrew scoffed. "So! He can't just touch her like it means nothing."

"But it does mean nothing. He just explained that they were nothing more than friends."

"I already said you were right."

"Then they're just friends!" Claire said. "Besides if you have such an issue with it, then maybe try talking to her."

Andrew rolled his eyes. "What like you talk to John?"

Claire looked over to where John was standing. But he had already walked back over to Pearce and his red station wagon. Lighting a new cigarette.

Claire watched him mess with his hair as he exhaled a large cloud of smoke. She bit her lip.

"That's different."

Andrew nodded sarcastically. "Sure."